Bingo the Winning Musical being produced by NextStage Productions is a splashy, zippy, fun new musical comedy, which opens August 25 at the Louden Nelson Auditorium and plays again at Mid-County Senior Center September 9 and 10th. Bingo is about a group of die-hard bingo players who stop at nothing to miss their weekly game. In between the number calling, strange rituals and fierce competitions, love blossoms and long lost friends reunite. These lovable characters spring to life with a smart, funny script and bouncy, hummable score. Audiences will be laughing in the aisles when they aren’t playing three games of bingo along with the cast!

Director Bradley Roades says: Every member of this cast is deeply involved in the arts community of Santa Cruz, and every one of them has knocked me out with their dedication, talent and commitment. They are creative, fun and a sheer joy with which to work. With every rehearsal, I feel like I’ve won Bingo. You’ll see that this show enjoys the core aspects of live theatre and the audience is key to the performance…and you might just win a prize! Roades has directed, Batboy and Addams Family for All About Theatre. His work for AAT also includes the productions of Spring Awakening, Billy Elliot and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Rio Theatre. Brad won the Mimi Steinberg playwriting award at Brandeis University where he studied writing and directing with Martin Halpern, David Wheeler, Michael Murray and Edward Albee, Jayne Anne Phillips, Geoffrey Wolff and others.

The NextStage producers are delighted to hear from cast members how much FUN they are having working on the show. Producing Bingo has a twofold purpose, making the community aware of the services for Seniors and Junior Seniors to access professional training in Creative and Expressive Arts and the need for raising funds. This is an ambitious undertaking and it will delight all ages and support programs of education, community involvement and health and wellness.

Choose your date to attend the show on August 25,26,27 and September 1,2,3 in Santa Cruz, or September 9,10 in Capitola. To sponsor, advertise in the program or buy tickets, go to www.nextstagesantacruz.org or call 831-316-4833(voice mail). Tickets also available at www.brownpapertickets.com, Grey Bears, Mid-County Senior Center, Scotts Valley Senior Center and The Daisy store in Capitola.